Description
Product Characteristics:
Closely related homeobox proteins, MOX-1 and MOX-2, belong to a family of nonclustered, diverged homeobox genes that are expressed in overlapping patterns in the paraxial mesoderm and its derivatives. MOX-1 and MOX-2 function transiently in the formation of mesodermal and mesenchymal derivatives. MOX-1 and MOX-2 are implicated in the early steps of mesoderm formation during gastrulation. In addition, the MOX proteins are also involved in somatic differentiation. Significantly, MOX-1 associates more strongly with Pax-1, whereas MOX-2 preferentially associates with Pax-3. Specifically, expression of MOX-2 (also known as mesenchyme homeobox 2 or GAX), has been shown to be critical in axial skeleton development. MOX-2 is not needed for the migration of myogenic precursors into the limb bud, but it is essential for normal appendicular muscle formation and for the normal regulation of myogenic genes. MOX-2 is expressed in placental tissue. The human MEOX2 gene maps to chromosome 7p21.1 and encodes the MOX-2 protein. Mutations in the gene may be involved in craniofacial and/or skeletal abnormalities.
Synonyms: GAX, Growth arrest-specic homeobox, Homeobox protein MOX 2, Homeobox protein MOX-2, meox2, MEOX2_HUMAN, Mesenchyme homeobox 2, MOX2.
Target Information: This gene encodes a member of a subfamily of non-clustered, diverged, antennapedia-like homeobox-containing genes. The encoded protein may play a role in the regulation of vertebrate limb myogenesis. Mutations in the related mouse protein may be associated with craniofacial and/or skeletal abnormalities, in addition to neurovascular dysfunction observed in Alzheimer's disease. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]